GS 4

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

 Some food for thought…..
thought
• Will you torture a suspected terrorist?
• Is suicide unethical?
•What is Ethics?
•Why its study has become more
important? 
Introduction
• How to Prepare for GS – IV
• Know your Syllabus
• Know your Question Paper
• Know your Resources
• How to Excel in GS – IV
• Understanding the Objectives of Questions
• Realising the Expectations in Answers
Know Your Syllabus
Morall Philosophy
M Phil (नैितक Social
h (नितक S i l Psychology
P h l Public
P bli Ad
Administration
i i t ti
त वज्ञान) (सामािजक मानसशा त्र) (लोक प्रशासन)
Ethics and human Attitude Aptitude and foundational
interface values for civil servants

Contributions of moral Emotional Intelligence Public/Civil service

philosophers from India values and ethics in public
and around the world administration

Philosophical basis of Probity in governance

governance and probity

Sources of ethical Case Studies on the above issues

guidance
Structure of the Question Paper
Section A
Theory [~125 marks]
Number of QQuestions – 12
Marks per Question – 10 or 15
Word limit – 150 words
Quotes
Examples
Concepts/ Definitions /Interlinkages
Application of concepts in public/
private life
Sec B
Case Studies [~125 marks]
Number of QQuestions – 6
Marks per Question – Either 20 or 25
Word limit – 250 to 300 words
Critical evaluation of possible options
Course of action and its Justification
Situation based case studies
Issue based case studies
Some Previous Years
Years’ Questions

• Ethics and Human Interface 

1. What do you understand by ‘values’
values and ‘ethics’?
ethics ? In what
way it is important to be ethical along with being
professionally competent? (150 words) 10 marks – 2013
2. The crisis of values in modern times is traced to narrow
perception of the good life. Discuss. (150 words) 10 marks
– 2017
Moral Philosophy
1. “The ggood of an individual is contained in the ggood of all.” What
do you understand by this statement? How can this principle be
implemented in public life? (150 words) 10 marks – 2013
2. Analyse John Rawls’s concept of social justice in Indian context.
(150 words) 10 marks – 2016
3. “Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct
understanding.” – Mahatma Gandhi. (150 words) 10 marks –
2018
Social Psychology
1 Young people with ethical conduct are not willing to come
1.
forward to join active politics. Suggests steps to motivate
them to come forward. (150 words) 10 marks – 2017
2. What is ‘emotional intelligence’ and how can it be
developed in people? How does it help an individual in
taking ethical decisions? (150 words) 10 marks – 2013
Ethics in Public Administration
1 Di
1. Discuss th
the P
Public
bli Services
S i Code
C d as recommended
d d by th 2nd
b the
Administrative Reforms Commission. (150 words) 10 marks –
2016
2. Distinguish between ‘code of ethics’ and ‘code of conduct’
with suitable examples. (150 words) 10 marks – 2018
3. What do you understand by ‘probity’ in public life? What are
the difficulties in practicing it in the present time? How can
th
these difficulties
diffi lti be b overcome?? (150 words) d ) 10 marks
k – 2014
Case Studies
You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head
a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main
cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work
themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to
mend their ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you
issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these troublemakers
instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of sexual harassment against
you with the Women
Women'ss Commission.
Commission The Commission promptly seeks your explanation.explanation The
matter is also publicized in the media to embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle
this situation could be as follows:
(i) Gi
Give your explanation
l ti tot the
th Commission
C i i andd go soft
ft on the
th disciplinary
di i li action.
ti
(ii) Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action.
(iii) Brief your higher
higher-ups,
ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly.
Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action,
giving your reasons for it. (250 words) 20 marks
Case Studies
• As a senior officer in the Finance Ministry, you have access to some
confidential
co de a and
a d crucial
c uc a information
o a o about
abou policy
po cy decisions
dec s o s that
a thee
Government is about to announce. These decisions are likely to have far-
reaching impact on the housing and construction industry. If the builders
have access to this information beforehand
beforehand, they can make huge profits.
profits
One of the builders has done a lot of quality work for the Government and
is known to be close to your immediate superior, who asks you to disclose
this information to the said builder.
(a) What are the options available to you?
(b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option which you would
adopt, giving reasons. (250 words) 20 marks
Case Studies
• Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development
all
ll aroundd the
h globe.
l b At A the
h same time,
i there
h is i also
l an increasing
i i
concern about environmental degradation caused by development.
Manyy a time,, we face a direct conflict between developmental
p activity
y
and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the
development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the
environment,
i t as it threatens
th t our very survival.
i l
Discuss some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate
this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development.
development (250
words) 20 marks
Study Resources
1. Justice – Michael Sandel ( Selected chapters)
1
1. For Moral Philosophy based topics
2. NCERT XIth and XIIth Psychology Textbook ( Selected chapters)
1. For Social Psychology based topics
3. 2nd ARC 4th Report “Ethics in Governance” (Selected Chapters)
1. For Public Administration based topics
4
4. Good Practices Handbook by NITI AYOG
5. Study Material or Notes – The Unique Academy
6. Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude : Answer Writing An Essential Guide
1. For Model answers and practice
Some Important
p Points
• Why GS – IV?
• To check candidates’ ethics
• Can you check an individual
individual’ss ethics through a
written exam?
• Possibility of deception
• Possibility of theory- practice divide
• Purpose of GS – IV ?
 Objective of GS – IV
• As a subject
• To reinforce values
• To critically examine moral
practices
• To help resolve moral dilemmas
• To overcome traditional
biases/prejudices
• As a questions paper
• To check your conviction
• To check your spontaneous
responses
• To check your reconciliation of
the ideal and the practical
• To check your moral perception
Realizing
g the Expectations
p
• Dos • Don’ts
• Authentic examples • Clichéd examples
• Well-thought of justifications • Casual justifications
• Precise definitions • Vague,
g , generic
g definitions
• Application to current affairs • Dense, theoretical answers
• Reflecting conviction • Superficial, run-of-the-mill
descriptions
Remember! In GS – IV it’s not enough to be correct. You need to also
CONVINCE the examiner that you mean it it, through your examples
and justifications
Some Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there right and wrong answers in ethics? Isn't each individual free to choose
his/her ethics?
2
2. Do we have to write 'idealistic'
idealistic answers or 'practical'
practical answers?
3. Do we have to quote philosophers in all answers?
4. g philosophy
Will taking p p y as an optional
p help
p in ethics p
paper?
p
5. Is it necessary to use jargon/ philosophical terms in answers?
6. Can we use diagrams and flow charts in answers?
7. Should I always give arguments for both sides of the issue asked?
8. Can I give examples of politicians and contemporary leaders?
9. Should I write in bullet points or in paragraphs?
10. What is a reasonable score to target in the paper?
To sum up:
p
• Good examples and sound justifications are the keys to excel in GS – IV
• Prepare keyword based definitions for each topic in the syllabus
• Add examples from your personal life and current affairs periodically
to these definitions
• Keep an eye out for potential case studies from newspapers and other
current affairs happenings
• A score of 110 + is the benchmark
• Attempting 220 + marks
• Equal attention to both sections
• Attempting all case studies is advisable